Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Applied Physics

rf-electrometer using a carbon nanotube resonant tunneling transistor

Lorenz Lechner, Fan Wu, R. Danneau, Søren E. S. Andresen, Pertti Juhani Hakonen

Published Apr 15, 2010• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have studied resonant tunneling transistors (RTT) made of single-walled carbon nanotube quantum dots in the Fabry–Pérot regime. We show sensitivity to input charge as high as 5×10−6 e/Hz1/2 with a carrier frequency of 719 MHz at 4.2 K. This result is comparable to the best values of charge sensitivity so far reported for radio frequency single electron transistors (rf-SET). Unlike SETs, whose operating temperature is limited as Coulomb blockade vanishes as 1/T, a RTT can operate at higher temperatures, since the dephasing length lϕ∝1/T2/3.

DOI
10.1063/1.3387927

Related papers

Radio-frequency operation of a double-island single-electron transistor

R. Brenner, Tilo M. Buehler, D. J. Reilly

We present results on a double-island single-electron transistor (DISET) operated at radio frequency (rf) for the fast and highly sensitive detection of charge motion in the solid state. Using an intuitive definition for the charge sensitivity, we compare a DISET to a conventional single-electron transistor (SET). We find that a DISET can be more sensitive than a SET for identical, minimum device resistances in the Coulomb blockade regime. This is of particular importance for rf operation, where ideal impedance matching to 50-Ω transmission lines is only possible for a limited range of device resistances. We report a charge sensitivity of 5.6×10−6e∕Hz for a rf-DISET, together with a demonstration of the single-shot detection of small (⩽0.1e) charge signals on microsecond time scales.

arXiv:cond-mat/0409046•Journal of Applied Physics•Dec 30, 2004•7 citations

The Radio-Frequency Single-Electron Transistor (RF-SET): A Fast and Ultrasensitive Electrometer

R. J. Schoelkopf, Paula Wahlgren, A. A. Kozhevnikov +2 more

A new type of electrometer is described that uses a single-electron transistor (SET) and that allows large operating speeds and extremely high charge sensitivity. The SET readout was accomplished by measuring the damping of a 1.7-gigahertz resonant circuit in which the device is embedded, and in some ways is the electrostatic "dual" of the well-known radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference device. The device is more than two orders of magnitude faster than previous single-electron devices, with a constant gain from dc to greater than 100 megahertz. For a still-unoptimized device, a charge sensitivity of 1.2 x 10(-5) e/hertz was obtained at a frequency of 1.1 megahertz, which is about an order of magnitude better than a typical, 1/f-noise-limited SET, and corresponds to an energy sensitivity (in joules per hertz) of about 41 Planck's over 2pi.

Science•May 22, 1998•776 citations

Study of the radio frequency single electron transistor: Principles and applications

Zhongqing Ji

This thesis will discuss the principles, techniques and applications of the Radio Frequency Single Electron Transistor (RF-SET). In the first part, the operating principles of Single Electron Transistors (SETS) in the normal and superconducting states will be introduced. The general techniques of fabricating and calibrating SETs will also be introduced. In the second part, two of our recent experiments are reviewed. One is related to the sensitivity and linearity of superconducting RF-SETs. We found that the RF-SET achieves the best balance of charge sensitivity and linearity in the subgap regime, as opposed to the usual preferred working point in the above-gap regime. The second experiment relates to the real-time counting of single electrons. We demonstrated that the RF-SET can be used as a fast and ultra-sensitive electrometer which can even detect tunneling of a single electron inside a tunable quantum dot (QD) formed in a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG).

•Jan 1, 2005•0 citations

Sensitivity and Linearity of Superconducting Radio-Frequency Single-Electron Transistors: Effects of Quantum Charge Fluctuations

Madhu Thalakulam, Zhongqing Ji, A. J. Rimberg

We have investigated the effects of quantum fluctuations of quasiparticles on the operation of superconducting radio-frequency single-electron transistors (rf-SETs) for large values of the quasiparticle cotunneling parameter alpha = 8EJ/Ec, where EJ and Ec are the Josephson and charging energies. We find that, for alpha > 1, subgap rf-SET operation is still feasible despite quantum fluctuations that wash out quasiparticle tunneling thresholds. Surprisingly, such rf-SETs show linearity and signal-to-noise ratio superior to those obtained when quantum fluctuations are weak, while still demonstrating excellent charge sensitivity.

arXiv:cond-mat/0310346•Physical Review Letters•Aug 5, 2004•13 citations

Radio-Frequency Single-Electron Transistor as Readout Device for Qubits: Charge Sensitivity and Backaction

A. Aassime, Göran Johansson, Goran P. Wendin +2 more

We study the radio-frequency single-electron transistor (rf-SET) as a readout device for charge qubits. We measure the charge sensitivity of an rf-SET to be 6.3microe/sqrt[Hz] and evaluate the backaction of the rf-SET on a single Cooper-pair box. This allows us to compare the needed measurement time with the mixing time of the qubit imposed by the measurement. We find that the mixing time can be substantially longer than the measurement time, which would allow readout of the state of the qubit in a single shot measurement.

Physical Review Letters•Apr 9, 2001•218 citations

Double quantum dot coupled to a radio-frequency single-electron transistor: Quantum measurement and back action

Madhu Thalakulam

The radio-frequency superconducting single electron transistor (RF-SET) is a highly sensitive and fast electrometer operating near the quantum limit. The back-action current noise of the SET induces voltage fluctuations on the system it is coupled to, dephasing its charge states. Here we propose to study the back action of the RF-SET by means of a double quantum dot (DQD) and, an RF-SET electrostatically coupled to one of the two dots. The inelastic current through the DQD is very sensitive to the spectral density of the voltage fluctuations in the nearby environment. By properly choosing the dot size and inter-dot tunnel barrier thickness, one can cause inelastic process to dominate the transport processes. A measurement of the inelastic current through the double dot system can then be used to calculate the spectral density of noise associated with the RF-SET and hence its back action. The design, fabrication and characterization of an RF-SET/DQD system is discussed in this work. Real-time studies of electron dynamics in coupled dots are also addressed.

•Jan 1, 2004•0 citations
We have studied resonant tunneling transistors (RTT) made of single-walled carbon nanotube quantum dots in the Fabry–Pérot regime. We show sensitivity to input charge as high as 5×10−6 e/Hz1/2 with a carrier frequency of 719 MHz at 4.2 K. This result is comparable to the best values of charge sensitivity so far reported for radio frequency single electron transistors (rf-SET). Unlike SETs, whose operating temperature is limited as Coulomb blockade vanishes as 1/T, a RTT can operate at higher temperatures, since the dephasing length lϕ∝1/T2/3.
We present results on a double-island single-electron transistor (DISET) operated at radio frequency (rf) for the fast and highly sensitive detection of charge motion in the solid state. Using an intuitive definition for the charge sensitivity, we compare a DISET to a conventional single-electron transistor (SET). We find that a DISET can be more sensitive than a SET for identical, minimum device resistances in the Coulomb blockade regime. This is of particular importance for rf operation, where ideal impedance matching to 50-Ω transmission lines is only possible for a limited range of device resistances. We report a charge sensitivity of 5.6×10−6e∕Hz for a rf-DISET, together with a demonstration of the single-shot detection of small (⩽0.1e) charge signals on microsecond time scales.
A new type of electrometer is described that uses a single-electron transistor (SET) and that allows large operating speeds and extremely high charge sensitivity. The SET readout was accomplished by measuring the damping of a 1.7-gigahertz resonant circuit in which the device is embedded, and in some ways is the electrostatic "dual" of the well-known radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference device. The device is more than two orders of magnitude faster than previous single-electron devices, with a constant gain from dc to greater than 100 megahertz. For a still-unoptimized device, a charge sensitivity of 1.2 x 10(-5) e/hertz was obtained at a frequency of 1.1 megahertz, which is about an order of magnitude better than a typical, 1/f-noise-limited SET, and corresponds to an energy sensitivity (in joules per hertz) of about 41 Planck's over 2pi.
This thesis will discuss the principles, techniques and applications of the Radio Frequency Single Electron Transistor (RF-SET). In the first part, the operating principles of Single Electron Transistors (SETS) in the normal and superconducting states will be introduced. The general techniques of fabricating and calibrating SETs will also be introduced. In the second part, two of our recent experiments are reviewed. One is related to the sensitivity and linearity of superconducting RF-SETs. We found that the RF-SET achieves the best balance of charge sensitivity and linearity in the subgap regime, as opposed to the usual preferred working point in the above-gap regime. The second experiment relates to the real-time counting of single electrons. We demonstrated that the RF-SET can be used as a fast and ultra-sensitive electrometer which can even detect tunneling of a single electron inside a tunable quantum dot (QD) formed in a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG).
We have investigated the effects of quantum fluctuations of quasiparticles on the operation of superconducting radio-frequency single-electron transistors (rf-SETs) for large values of the quasiparticle cotunneling parameter alpha = 8EJ/Ec, where EJ and Ec are the Josephson and charging energies. We find that, for alpha > 1, subgap rf-SET operation is still feasible despite quantum fluctuations that wash out quasiparticle tunneling thresholds. Surprisingly, such rf-SETs show linearity and signal-to-noise ratio superior to those obtained when quantum fluctuations are weak, while still demonstrating excellent charge sensitivity.
We study the radio-frequency single-electron transistor (rf-SET) as a readout device for charge qubits. We measure the charge sensitivity of an rf-SET to be 6.3microe/sqrt[Hz] and evaluate the backaction of the rf-SET on a single Cooper-pair box. This allows us to compare the needed measurement time with the mixing time of the qubit imposed by the measurement. We find that the mixing time can be substantially longer than the measurement time, which would allow readout of the state of the qubit in a single shot measurement.
The radio-frequency superconducting single electron transistor (RF-SET) is a highly sensitive and fast electrometer operating near the quantum limit. The back-action current noise of the SET induces voltage fluctuations on the system it is coupled to, dephasing its charge states. Here we propose to study the back action of the RF-SET by means of a double quantum dot (DQD) and, an RF-SET electrostatically coupled to one of the two dots. The inelastic current through the DQD is very sensitive to the spectral density of the voltage fluctuations in the nearby environment. By properly choosing the dot size and inter-dot tunnel barrier thickness, one can cause inelastic process to dominate the transport processes. A measurement of the inelastic current through the double dot system can then be used to calculate the spectral density of noise associated with the RF-SET and hence its back action. The design, fabrication and characterization of an RF-SET/DQD system is discussed in this work. Real-time studies of electron dynamics in coupled dots are also addressed.